Director Cherien Dabis Launches Visibility Films to Self-Distribute Movie

Filmmaker Cherien Dabis launched Visibility Films to self-distribute her 2025 drama "All That's Left of You" after Hollywood distributors declined to pick up the project due to its subject matter. Dabis, an acclaimed actress, writer, and producer known for her work on "Quantico," "Ramy," "Ozark," and "Mo," which has earned her Emmy nominations, a Peabody Award, and a Tribeca Film Festival award, decided to bypass traditional distribution channels. Her directorial debut, "All That's Left of You," is a historic drama that chronicles the lives of a Palestinian family over 75 years. The film, executive produced by Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024 and received accolades at multiple other festivals, including the San Francisco International Film Festival and the Sydney Film Festival. It also achieved Oscar consideration, being shortlisted for Best International Feature Film by Jordan, where parts of the movie were filmed. Despite this critical recognition, Dabis encountered resistance from Hollywood, which she characterized as risk-aversion masked by corporate language. Faced with the choice between altering her story to fit industry standards or releasing it authentically, Dabis opted for the latter. She co-founded Visibility Films with the explicit purpose of empowering and uplifting Palestinian and Arab media representation. This independent venture then co-released "All That's Left of You" with Watermelon Pictures, another distributor focused on similar goals. The film's limited release in North America garnered positive reviews from critics on platforms such as Rotten Tomatoes and RogerEbert.com, underscoring the demand for unfiltered narratives. Dabis's decision reflects a growing trend of independent filmmakers taking control of their distribution to ensure their stories are told without compromise, particularly when dealing with sensitive or politically charged themes that may be perceived as controversial by mainstream studios. The establishment of Visibility Films signifies a commitment to providing a platform for underrepresented voices and narratives within the film industry, challenging the gatekeeping practices that can stifle creative expression and limit audience access to diverse cinematic works. The film's narrative, which explores the lived experiences of Palestinians, highlights the complexities and resilience of a community often misrepresented or marginalized in global media.